The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-09-10
CHAPTER XIV
THE YANKEE PEDDLER

NIX DIibb Oll uOG aNahtu iEOln the
deep sleep that at last overpowered
his senses until nearly midday.
Then old Jerry, who had long waited
with Impotence for the moment OF
awakening, entered the room and shock
him roughly.
"A man wishes to speak to you, said
the servant.
Britt sprang up.
What MANI
"A stranger-a peddler, think, from
the appearance of his outfit"
Britt shook from head to heel, like g
person in nervous chill.
He went hastily into the hall.
A small and rather effeminate-loo
ing person was waiting.
You are the owner of this placer"
queried the stranger, in a respectful
manner.
4 am"
We'll, / have met with a serious ac-
! cident, and want to stop with you few
days, until | can have my vehicle mend
ed and my horse cured"
Impossible.
30, come now" said the stranger,
with laugh, don't be so hard hearted.
tell you | must stop-cant go step
further. Fact is, my horse is dead
| lame, and one of the wheels to my cart
collapsed through the benign influence
of the black muck your roads are made
Of. 1t is simply a case of necessity
with me. l must stay"
I've no room for you"
The stranger whistled.
That's bad. But | won't need much
room. Just hang me up on a nail any
where, and give me a morsel Of bread
and a sup of cold water. | won't be
any trouble to you. BESIDES my cart is
loaded with a lot of Yankee notions
that, III be bound, viii please the
! ladies'
My women folks don't see strangers,
and my house Is not a hotel" returned
Britt, inhospitably. You must go fur
ther on.
Further on" gasped the peddler;
why, bless you, ! can't go a step fur
Their. With horse that is dead lame,
and a wagon wheel that won't go
round not to mention the rain and the
mud, ] must stop, whether ike it or
not. It's a dead loss financially to be
laid up in this way. But what can't
/ be cured must be endured There are
cords Of glassware In my wagon aching
to be sold, and here | am prey to uD-
/ toward fate, and can't sell EN-"
| The eyes of the peddler were looking
| frankly aud smilmgly into BIRTHS own,
/ and Britt battered himself that he could
read character pretty well. There was
/ nothing to be feared IN the slim, beard
| less fellow at his side.
To drive him away would be to Gre
| ate suspicion of some sort. After a mo-
ments reflection Britt gave reluctant
| consent
"rut your horse in the barn. You
may remain a day or so. Or, better
! still, | Will lend or hire an animal to
/ you, until such time as yours is ready to
/ go again. 1t will not take long to fit
/ wheel o your cart. I've two or three
| useless old wheels about the place, that
/ you can have if you like"
/ Enthusiastically"
whats your name"
"My name-why, to be sure. How
careless Of me to forget to introduce
myself Here's my card. I'm Elnathan
More-More by name and more by
nature too"
He laughed heartily and unatfectedIy
! at his own pun. I'm of Quaker ex-
traction, though not follower of the
/ Quaker creed, and a bang-up good
/ chap, when once you come to know me
well"
/ 4 see you are the pOssessor of cheek
I enough for any occasion" said Britt
/ grimly.
AS to that" laughed More, ingeni-
/ ously, you mrst be the Judge.
! Modesty forbids my opinion upon the
I subject. OF course, I believe in the
/ old saving, that there's tricks in all
/ trades but our own eh?"
I don't know about it," returned
Britt grimIy. Il half repent of consent
ing to your stopping here. You are too
I glib with your tongue. Besides, I'm not
IN the habit of taking strangers into my
/ house. ! mans house Is his castle,
as the saying is"
90, I'll not annoy you. Let me see
the ladIes-Ill talk with them. | won't
be a bIt of trouble to you at all,
and | promise not to talk them into
buying anything, unless they really
wish it. !"
NY women folks are unaccustomed
to doing business with strangers. Be
sides, nav wife is very Ill, and must not
be disturbed.
More darted a sharp glance at his
unwilling host
90, we'll, III stop. There's nothing
( else for it, | suppose, but to wait until
! my horse RECEIVERS. l hope it won't be
\ cry long"
so do |" said Britt uncourteously.
The unwilling host showed his IN
/ welcome guest into the musty rarlor
You can sit here until | return,
said he coldly. Il will investigate
your affairs. The horse may not be
very badly famed after all I'm a
pretty fair Judge of such things, and
+ can soon decide what the trouble may
/ be.
More sank back comfortably in the
stuffed chair
His face was round and laughing,
and his attitude was the picture of care
. less ease. But his keen blue eyes were
observaut ana did not fail to take in
every detail OF the musty room even
TO the ust-inch deep on the window
sill
The Soi-3iS01lt peddler snapped his
fingers Gayly as his host disappeared
down tie steps.
You'll find the horse to be lame
enough, my worthy friend, lame enough
Tor any urpose, said he merrily. And
then he laughed, deep, couyulsive
chuckle, that shook him from head to
heel with merrimeIt.
tT1 LE ca STISUED.1
Grate Joke.
III he gosh-durnd ef thurs emmy
thing thar beats a Eood crate fire, :" said
old Uncle auiel, as he turned his back
to tie fire and spread his coat tails.
Il am clad ter see Yer grateful" re-
Piled bi> wife,
IlEALaH brings happiness. \ man